BAMEX, which has for the first time become a major hub for the defense industry in Mali with the participation of Turkish companies in the sector, is establishing itself as a key center for addressing the continent’s security challenges.
BAMEX’26 will open its doors for the second time in Bamako from November 9 to 13, with the ambition of becoming the most comprehensive defense exhibition ever organized on the African continent.
This region, long described as a “terrorism corridor” at the border of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, is now transforming into an unprecedented strategic meeting point for Africa’s defense industry.
Bamako Expo 2026 (BAMEX’26) is set to open for the second time in Bamako from November 9 to 13, with the stated ambition of becoming the most comprehensive defense exhibition ever held in Africa.
The event, which will bring together under one roof high-level official and defense delegations from 54 African countries as well as several other concerned states, has opened registration to Turkish and international companies.
Harun Saraç, Chairman of the Board of BAMEX and CEO of The Peak Defense, stated that the first edition of BAMEX, held last year, was open to the participation of Turkish defense companies.
Highlighting that many leading Turkish companies in their respective fields took part in the exhibition, and that official delegations from around 35 countries traveled to Bamako to closely follow the event, Saraç emphasized that, despite being its inaugural edition, BAMEX was highly productive for both participants and delegations.
Noting that the 2026 edition will be held in a significantly different format, Saraç made the following remarks:
“This year, the exhibition will be a fully international platform, with participating companies from various countries around the world. We also expect significant growth in the number of delegations. Last year, we hosted delegations from around 35 countries; this year, we aim to double that number and increase the number of participating companies by approximately threefold.
However, I would like to emphasize one essential point: our objective at BAMEX is not about quantity, but about connecting the right companies with the right decision-makers. That is why we are very rigorous in selecting participants. Rather than accepting all applications, we select companies with truly high-quality products, proven in the field and capable of meeting the region’s needs.
During our first exhibition, approximately $150 million in business volume was generated. This year, with a much broader international participation, we hope to reach the $500 million mark.”
Connecting Real Needs with Real Solutions
Harun Saraç indicated that very positive feedback was received from both participating companies and attending delegations last year. Emphasizing that delegations were directly connected with manufacturers and genuinely high-quality technologies, he noted that interest in this year’s exhibition is significantly higher, with participation requests coming from many different countries.
Drawing attention to the fact that one of BAMEX’s distinctive features lies in its design as a long-term platform, Saraç stated that from 2026 onwards, the exhibition will be held every two years, with the ambition of gradually becoming a powerful international platform covering the entire region. He added:
“Given the current security and geopolitical context of Africa—particularly the Sahel—and the rest of the world, the importance of such an exhibition is considerable. BAMEX is not a conventional trade fair where products are merely displayed; it is a platform where real needs meet real solutions, and where participants can present their products directly to high-level government delegations and have them tested in the field. That is why we aim to make it an event that generates strong partnerships and tangible results, both for participants and delegations. Our goal is to turn BAMEX, over time, into one of the most distinctive, productive, and value-driven defense platforms in the world.”
